May 2011
53 posts
April 2011
77 posts
Walker Plan Brings USDA Warning →
jsonline.com
Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to privatize work determining who is eligible for food assistance in the state would violate federal law and could expose the state to a loss of more than $20 million in federal money, federal officials say.
By the way, Dennis Smith, the man Walker appointed to head the Department of Health Services, wrote all of this for the Heritage Foundation.
GOP Con Artist From Utah Behind Efforts To Recall Wisconsin Democrats →
deseretnews.com
linked above. it’s a must-read.
Frustrated with the government, Dan Baltes interjected himself into the high-profile debate on illegal immigration in Arizona, including a petition to oust the Pima County sheriff. He initiated an effort to draft a Florida congressman to run for president. Last week he appeared on Fox News as the leader of an effort to recall Wisconsin legislators. Some of his fellow conservatives, though, say they’re catching on to something else: Baltes isn’t who he appears to be.
Update: Scott Walker, "Education Policy Expert"
Yesterday I posted about Scott Walker being the featured speaker on education policy for a group I wasn’t familiar with, the American Federation for Children. I was in complete disbelief that anyone (well, besides Walker-advocate Michelle Rhee) would consider Walker some sort of expert on education. After all, this is a man who recently answered the question “why do you hate education” with the response: “Well, for us, the answer is that I love education.”
Turns out, the American Federation for Children is linked to the Koch brothers-funded “Prosperity Network.” The group has recently become heavily involved in Wisconsin politics, even sponsoring robo-calls to discourage people from recalling Republicans. And making the Governors they support ”keynote speakers” at their ”policy summit” is their M.O…just ask Pennsylvania’s Tom Corbett.
Wisconsin Republicans Suddenly Love the Idea of Redistributing Resources →
jsonline.com
Maybe Waukesha should learn to live within its means and stop asking for handouts…
John Boehner v. John Boehner
- John Boehner: Paul Ryan has an idea that's certainly worthy of consideration.
- John Boehner: I voted for it. I’m for it! I'm for it!
- John Boehner: It's our idea. Right?
- John Boehner: It's Paul's idea. Other people have other ideas.
- John Boehner: I'm not wedded to one single idea, but I think it’s --
- John Boehner: We have a plan!
- -John Boehner on Paul Ryan's "Path to Prosperity." The best part? This was all one statement.
Update: Voter ID Legislation In Wisconsin
The latest version of a bill requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls would make sweeping changes to Wisconsin elections - moving the September primary to August, tightening rules on absentee ballots and ending straight-ticket voting.
A hearing on the bill is slated for 10 a.m. Wednesday, and Republicans who run the Assembly will meet in private later in the day to discuss any changes to the measure.
Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon) said his caucus is largely behind the latest version by Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale), but may want to tweak it. He said he hopes to pass the bill in May and forward it to the Senate.
Read the full story here. Wisconsinites, you can testify tomorrow at the hearing! Interestingly, the Department of Transportation and the Government Accountability Board have estimated that this reform would cost at least $4.8 million to implement.
The New York Times had a great editorial today on the Republican push for tightening voter ID requirements.
Scott Walker To Give Keynote Address on Education Policy. (Seriously)
Howard Fuller, Milwaukee’s best-known advocate for school choice, has been an outspoken opponent of Scott Walker’s proposal for sweeping education reforms. He recently wrote:
It was not easy for me to stand before the state Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee and threaten to withdraw my support from the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, which I have supported for more than 20 years. But if lawmakers approve Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to lift the income requirement that has maintained the program for children from low-income families, that is exactly what I will do.
And today, an article from Mother Jones covered Walker’s plan. Since Milwaukee students in the Parental Choice Program aren’t testing as well as students in public schools, Walker plans to stop testing the students in the Choice Program.
So naturally, Walker will be a keynote speaker on education reform at a national meeting of the American Federation for Children.
Governor Scott Walker Caught In Political Plagiarism
Rick Ungar’s latest post on Forbes is a must read. Scott Walker keeps taking credit for creating jobs, when in reality they were created by his predecessor, Governor Doyle; this time, he was caught red-handed.
Duffy Gets Huffy: Congressman Tells Voters Concerned With Ryan Budget To ‘Have Your Own Town Hall’ →
thinkprogress.org
Constituents called out the Republican Congressman’s fraudulent projections regarding the Paul Ryan budget and Representative Duffy freaked out.
Signatures to Recall the Sixth Wisconsin Republican to be Filed Thursday →
dane101.com
Number six: Robert Cowles (Green Bay). Six down, two to go!
In A Life Filled With Firsts, One More.
In less than two weeks, Ms. Wasserman Schultz — mother, wife, Girl Scout leader, legislator, fund-raiser and House vote counter — will add another job to her monumentally orchestrated life. She will become the first woman elected to lead the Democratic National Committee, a role that requires grit, exaltation and inspiration. At 44, she will be the youngest committee leader in decades.
Read the full story here.
